Active Voice vs. Passive Voice - Why do we use them?

In a lot of ways, non-native speakers understand English grammar a lot better than native speakers do.  Active and Passive voice is one of those things that most native speakers can use well, but can't really explain well.  On the other hand, a lot of students can explain it quite well.  Students can even do all the exercises to transform one to the other, but in the end they often can't use it naturally.

Here is a little explanation of each.

Active voice:

Subject A does something to Subject B

I fed my cat

Passive voice:

Subject B receives an action (from Subject A)

My cat was fed (by me)

So we can make sentences like "I hit my brother" or "my brother was hit", and they basically mean the same thing.  A lot of classes spend a TON of time practicing changing from active to passive and passive to active, but unfortunately not so much time understanding why you would use one or the other.  

A lot of native speakers are told to just not use the passive voice (I remember being penalized for using the passive voice on a paper once...).  However there are good situations to use the passive voice, it's just that we tend to use the active voice more.

3 reasons why we use the active voice:

• Active voice is mainly spoken 
• Active voice is emotional
• Active voice has blame or responsibility (he did it!)

3 reasons why we use the passive voice:

• Passive voice is mainly written
• Passive voice is informational
• Passive voice doesn't know or doesn't care who did it

Finally, just a few examples of natural situations for each.  Active voice is often used in conversations, and generally most of the time.  Passive voice is trickier.  Passive voice is good in scientific writing, news stories, and when you don't care or don't know who did something.

A Natural Pronunciation Tip - Speak Smoothly

So here is a general pronunciation rule that most native speakers use when they speak.  Even if you, as a learner, don't actually use this pronunciation technique, you WILL hear it and should learn to recognize it.

When one word ends with a consonant sound, and the next word begins with a vowel sound, the sounds BLEND.

That's it.  Just to review, vowel means AEIOU, and  consonant means BCDFGHJKLMNPQRSTVWXYZ.

For example:

Under every chair 

Unde-revery chair

Consonant sounds count too.  For example:

Once every week  

One-severy week

So give it a try.  Just take a look in any newspaper, magazine, or blog article and try to read some of those sentences out loud by linking and blending the words together.  It sounds a lot more natural that way.  

3 Online Resources for ESL Students (and Teachers)

There are A LOT of places out there to go to learn English.  Some are very good, and some are very, very, very bad.  Here are a few of my favorites that I hope you can utilize and enjoy.

Amazon

Of course.  No question.  Amazon is a fantastic resource.  Not much more to say.  They have just about anything for anyone.  Just one recommendations (not really a recommendation, just get it) for teachers:  

ALL ENGLISH TEACHERS MUST MUST MUST HAVE THIS BOOK.  It'll tell you everything you'll ever need to know about grammar.  It'll even help you to answer all those tricky questions that students love to ask.

Dave's ESL Cafe

One of the original resources out there.  They have links for students, resources for teachers, and a very user-friendly interface.  Very nice site, regularly maintained.

English Club 

Although not as "beautiful" as Dave's ESL Cafe, it is still a very nice place.  Not so much for the resources, but very much for the community.  There is a very active base of students and teachers who are all friendly and eager to communicate.

4 Answers to "Did you use to XXX". "Yes, I did", "No, I didn't", and 2 more...

I USED TO

It isn't as easy as it sounds.  For example let's talk about Bill.  Here's some background about Bill:

• Bill was born in Texas.
• Bill has never lived in Europe.
• Bill recently moved to California.  
• He has been to Japan, but only once.

Now let's ask Bill 4 questions using "use to":

1. Did you use to live in Texas?               Yes, I did.
2. Did you use to live in Europe?               No, I didn't.
3. Did you use to live in California?               No, I still do.
4. Did you use to visit Japan?               No, only once.

#1 and #2 should be easy enough for everyone to answer.  But there are two special conditions about "I used to".  

* "I used to" means that I don't anymore.  So #3 must be NO!  I still do.  I do now. 

* "I used to" means that it was regular.  So #4 must be NO!  I only did it once.  Never regularly. 

So try making a few questions using "Did you use to XXXX", and try making some answers for yourself!

     

Over and Under + Adjective = Disaster!

Being overpaid sounds nice.  Being underworked doesn't sound so bad either.  But over and under is generally something that is not good.  If you're overpaid, then your customers and company are getting cheated.  If you are underworked you're not being treated fairly.

Over + adjective is too much.  Under + adjective is too little.  Here are some common examples:

• Overdressed                                                          Underdressed
• Overpaid                                                               Underpaid
• Overworked                                                          Underworked
• Overcooked                                                          Undercooked
• Overbooked                                                          Underbooked 

All not so good for somebody.  So if over and under is not good, then what is?  There's no easy one word solution, you'll have to use your judgement in every case.  Here are few examples in blue that could be more positive situations.

• Overdressed               appropriately dressed          Underdressed
• Overpaid                    fairly paid                            Underpaid
• Overworked               fairly worked                      Underworked
• Overcooked               well cooked                       Undercooked
• Overbooked               fully booked                        Underbooked 

Tag Questions are easy (a little easy). Answering them is a bit tougher.

There are basically 2 types of tag questions: positive and negative.  

Like this:

"You are American, aren't you?"  =  (I think you are American.  Is that right?)

"You aren't American, are you?"  =  (I don't think you are American.  Is that right?)

We use tag questions to confirm information that we think we know.  

You can change the verbs in sentences to use tag questions in many situations.  Like, "this isn't easy, is it?", or "you are getting frustrated, aren't you?".  Anyway, so far so good.  But a lot of people get confused on how to answer.  

Answer these:

1. The fire is hot, isn't it?     (I think the fire is hot)
2. The fire is cold, isn't it?     (I think the fire is cold)
3. The fire isn't hot, is it?     (I think the fire isn't hot)
4. The fire isn't cold, is it?     (I think the fire isn't cold)

How was it?  Could you answer all 4 questions without getting confused?  Let's see.  The best answers should be:

1. Yes, it is.     (agreeing)    
2. No, it isn't!     (disagreeing)
3. Yes, it is!     (disagreeing)
4. No, it isn't.     (agreeing)

I put #2 and #3 in bold type to show that you are disagreeing with me.  Please you a strong voice and shout out that I am wrong!  

My TV deserves an article! Or at least tell me who's TV you're talking about.

Do you see a problem with the following sentences?

1. Please turn on TV.
2. Yesterday I watched new movies.
3. Let's go to Chinese restaurant for lunch on Saturday.

Hopefully these sentences sound a bit strange if you say them out loud to yourself.  Although the message is mostly clear, there is some potential for confusion if you speak like this.  The first thing I think when I hear these sentences is...

1. Which TV?
2. What new movie? How many movies?
3. Which Chinese restaurant?

If you use a noun like TV, movie, or restaurant, you need to tell me WHICH ONE!  Even if there's just one TV in the room, I promise, I will freeze for a moment and try to think about which TV you mean.  This one?  That one?  My TV?  My mother's TV?  I know it's stupid, but that's how it is.  

So if you use a noun, you need to give me some detail.  Please say:

• a TV
• The TV
• This TV
• His TV
• 17 TVs
• Bill's TV

Or something like that.  Please clarify or there may be a little confusion.  Now, try those 3 sentences again and see if you can make them a bit more natural.